G1 staff receive 'threats' over boycott

Police have been called in to investigate claims that staff at Glasgow's G1 group, which runs a string of bar and restaurant venues across Scotland, have received threatening messages amid a boycott of its venues.
The Grosvenor Cinema on Ashton Lane, Glasgow. PIC: TSPL.The Grosvenor Cinema on Ashton Lane, Glasgow. PIC: TSPL.
The Grosvenor Cinema on Ashton Lane, Glasgow. PIC: TSPL.

G1 Group said it has reported the “threats” to the police amid a increasingly bitter row over staffing issues at the Grosvenor Cinema in Ashton Lane, Glasgow.

The boycott comes as a campaign to reinstate 10 workers at the venue, who were dismissed amid allegations they had “manipulated” a staff discount scheme, gathers pace.

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Just under 2,600 people have signed a petition organised by BetterThanZero, which campaigns for better working conditions in Scotland, to get the staff reinstated.

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The group, who led a protest at the West End premises on Saturday, claimed one worker was dismissed for using a discount valued at just £1.89.

The G1 Group, owned by businessman Stefan King, claims it has been subjected to a “misleading publicity campaign.”

A statement said the campaign had “resulted in our employees and customers being physically harassed, requiring police intervention outside one of our venues on Saturday 2nd September 2017.

“Our employees have since been subject to threatening and abusive messages in person and via social media as a result of the irresponsible misinformation which has been spread. These threats have now also been reported to the police.”

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said officers were called twice to the venue on Saturday and that assistance was given to both parties. No arrests were made.

Police Scotland was checking any information received regarding any threatening messages received by staff at the time of press.

Better Than Zero reportedly said it would not condone any personal abuse of staff, it any had occurred.

It described Saturday’s protest as “peaceful.”

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The G1 statement said a small group of employees had been accused of “knowingly manipulating discounts over and above the 50% food discount the company provides to them.”

It added: “It is not the case that action has been taken because staff have used a legitimate discount scheme to purchase food, as has been incorrectly alleged.

“A detailed investigation has been carried out and has established that these employees had added further discounts, which in some cases negated the entire bill. G1 Group hold a robust trail of evidence and statements to support this chain of events.”

G1 said it had not been acting on the monetary value of the loss but on the “breach of trust”

The spokesman said the disciplinary process was ongoing.